By now, everyone is aware of the problems that were spawned by the COVID-19 pandemic. From health, business, to even education, the coronavirus has created countless issues. However, on the flip side, as the response to these problems, a lot of innovations have popped up. The current problem that we are facing is low vaccination rates in certain areas. Many schools have taken it upon themselves to fix the problem by hosting clinics.

The barriers to getting a COVID vaccine through a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens are already low; however, those places still do not have access to students and families that a school would. That is why many schools are hosting the clinics themselves.

My school is one such school. Communication was sent home to families about the opportunity and many of them took up the offer. The clinic wasn’t just for the COVID vaccines either. Other vaccines such as the flu shot were available too.

As cool as it is to see schools responding to needs one has to wonder: Why not offer this every year? Besides the obvious answers of funding and capacity, is there any reason schools shouldn’t offer some time type of clinic for important shots at least once a year? Schools are already accustomed to having doctors come in for sports physicals. Many districts have dentists and eye doctors come around, so it is curious that this year was the first time I saw schools offer vaccinations and other shots. At some point COVID-19 will probably die down, but there will still be vaccinations students need to get. People need flu shots every year. Judging by how many students miss extended time with a bad case of the flu not many of them get the vaccine. Offering flu shots on site could put a dent in that number.

By the way, it wouldn’t be the worst deal in the world to have shots offered on site for the convenience of staff as well. I remember when teachers were added to the group of people who were allowed to get the vaccine. All of us were scrambling to find a time at CVS, Kroger, or Walgreens to get one.

Our on-site vaccination clinic may have come too late to spare me the hassle of going to CVS to get the shot, but I am happy that it is much easier for students and families. Hopefully this is one of those COVID era innovations that doesn’t go away when the pandemic does.